The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-01
Correspondence.
VACATION AFTERMATH.

IOLAND OPhlNCf, Mes DEPT. 10, 1901.
To the Editor of The UniUersalst:
The harvest of vacation letters was long
since gathered in. The writer's of those
letters are at home again, and well ad-
vanced in the sowing of good seed for
other harvests. I come to you only with
little sheaf of aftermath, from these
fruitful fields of Maine. 1 have passed
many summers among these charming
hills. For fifteen years I have scarcely
sought any other corner Of the universe
for rest. Two or three times within three
years, have passed the summer in other
parts, drawn by duty or the desire to visit
old friends. But since first I breathed
this air, and drank this health-giving wa
ter, and Toasted my eyes upon the chang
ing beauty of this amphitheater OF hills,
when the time for summer rest came
round have turned my face quickly TO-
ward this best of all resorts for the recu-
peration of exhausted energies.
We did not, for reasons painful, though
I trust honorable, come this year, in July
or August. So, as the demon sciatica,
that had held me through the long sum-
mer, released his hold little with the
early days Of September, we concluded to
seek this familiar spot, and note the
changes which September would bring to
the woods and hills and sky. We had
studied them faithfully in all the stages
OF summer growth and glory. 1t has
seemed to us as il even an infinite hand
could hardly gather more OF loneliness
about any single spot. But September Is
really more inviting than August or July.
We have larger proportion of sunshiny
daye. And then the air is purer, the
sky seems bluer, and the distant mount
aims stand out in clearer outline against
the horizon. We have had as yet no frost,
and the abundant rams have preserved
the foliage in all the freshness of sum-
mer. But as the days go by, the land
scape which stretches around us for fifty
miles, will take on all the varying shades
of scarlet and crimson and purple and
gold. Aud then if you would know the
full meaning of New England landscape
in autumn, see it from our watch-tower
at Poland Spring. Moses saw a single
bush afame, and it so impressed him with
the presence and power of God, that he
took the sandals from his feet, feeling
that he stood upon holy ground. o, if
Moses could stand here, and see ten thou
sand trees aham., how he would feel that
he stood in Gods own temple, and that
every wind was his breath, and every
cloud was his chariot, and every leaf and
flower and tree and hill was touched and
quickened by the very finger and life of
God.
wonder that people crowd here as they
do in the summer, and then flee to their
homes in the early autumn days. When
they learn how delightful it is in Septem-
Der and October these will be the best
months of the year. Indeed, they are be-
ginning now to understand it. While the
sea-shore resorts are already deserted,
the houses here are still we'll filed. Many
are going every day, but others come to
take their places, so that there are but few
unoccupied rooms in either hotel. When
there happens to be a little chill in the ar.
the great open blazing fires drive it away,
SO that the guests can enjoy such degree
of warmth as they may desire, even should
they remain we'll into the autumn.
Great improvements have been made
in the Poland Spring House since last
year. 1t is now one Of the most perfectly
appointed and complete hotels in New
England. 1t seems TO be the policy Of
the proprietors, not so much to make
money as to build up the place. They
have such an enormous revenue from the
sale of the water, that they can well az
ford to devote the net income from the
hotels to Improvements, which they do in
large degree. They seem to understand
that it pays we'll to provide satisfactorily
for their patrons, for every man who
comes here becomes an advertising agent
of the place, and the more people and
families visit the hotels, the more will
buy and drink the Poland water after they
go home. So the spring helps the hotels,
and the hotels help the spring, and houses
and spring are pouring into the Golfers a
considerable stream of gold.
Well, we rejoice in the success of these
young men. They have worked hard for
it. And they are not as SO many are.
wringing fortune out of the sorrow, loss
and misfortune OF others. They are bless